Cutting machine



Aug. 9, 1932` G. K. MCNEILL 1,871,334

` CUTTING MACHINE Filed sep-t. 17, -1929 `2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR George K. /Vf/l/ez'ZZ ATTORNEY Ag. 9, 1932. G. K, MCNEILL 1,871,334

CUTTING MACHIE Filed Sept. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR Georye A. MC/Vez ZZ ATTOR N EY Patented Aug. 9, 1932 .UNITED stares parametrica* y GEORGE K. McNEILI.,.orDnTRo1T, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoR To MORGAN a WRIGHT,V on v DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION or MICHIGAN Y r v CUTTING MACHINE i Application med september 17,` 19.29'. seria-1 No'. 393,161.

rlhis invention relates to a machine for severlng fabric.

I-Ieretofore fabric. cutting .machines inV which a` single cutting element arranged to tra-versel the whole width of the fabric to be cut have been devised. In such fabric cut-L ting machines the length of stroke of the cut- V ting member is suchas to make the construction unwieldy and of a nature liable to get out of order. e

It is the object of this invention to provide a cutting machine in which the cutting member shall have a short stroke less than the total line ofcut. It is also the object of thisinvenl5 tion to provide a clamping means for holding down the fabric adjacent the cut which is automatically operated by the cutting means..

Another object of this invention is to provide a cutting machine adapted to make a plu-vL rality of cuts at once to form`strips ofthe same or various widths. Y f

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a planview ofthe machine .of this invention; j Fig. 2 is a section partly in elevation of one of the cutting devices of this invention; 3o

cutting device; n Y

Fig. I is a sectionalview taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; 1 Y l i Fig. 5 is a detail of the parts shown in Fig'p; Fig.`6 is a cross sectional detail of the cutting member; l

Fig. is a detail plan view partly in section of the cutting member. Y The fabric l to be cut,'which usually is in the form of a long sheet or strip, is advanced to the cutting devices 2 in any suitable way,'

and preferably by a conveyorv 3. 'Ihe conveyor 8 is provided with an intermittent drive so that the fabric l will be moved forward a distance sufficient to bring an uncut portion of fabric beneath all of the cutting devices 2 at once. The cutting devices 2 maybe spaced at'equal distances so that strips will be cut from the fabric Vof equal width or if desired ythe fabric. Y I

.6 ink the frame ofthe conveyor. For con- F ig. 3 is a broken away side elevation of theV the, cutting devices 2 may be spaced unequally so that a pluralityof strips of various widths,

. suchy as might be 'employed in the'building of a tire'carcass, may be' simultaneously. cutfrom .'Ihev cutting devices l2 are conveniently f mounted upon the lframe 4 .of the` conveyor. f 'Ihe cutting devices .7.2 are provided with the members 5 suitably secured together `to form a rigid frame extending across the fabric.` et The frame composed lof members 5 vis afdjustablymounted atits ends on the' frame 4 of thepconveyorL by bolts or other suitable fastening devices 'passing .through the slots veniencethe graduated'sector7 may be provided .for determining the-angular position of theframewith respect "to the direction of travel ofthe fabric on the conveyor.

The-frame members 5 are so disposed as to provide a slot 8 therebetween in which the cutting member 9" is mounted for sliding -movement. `The cutting member 9 is preferably composed of two bars 10 fastened together in any suitable manner as by` screws. In either or both `of the bars 10 at regularly spaced intervals alongthe length thereof are provided a plurality offslots- 11 adapted to accommodateknives or other cutting'members-12. The lrnivesfl2V are provided with lugs 13 projecting laterally 4from'the top thereof which limit the downward adjustment of theknives inthe slots 11. Screws or other suitable adjusting means lmay be provided in thebars 10 for forcing and clamping the lmives 12 in position. y v

In order that the knives may -be moved' into cutting engagement with theV fabric,

. withdrawn therefrom and maintainedV in cutrotatably mounted on-pinlr. The cam slot lo is of shapesuch that, -as shown 3, when the pin 16-occupies a position at either end ofthe slot 15 the cutting member 9 and i ao the fabric.` At positions intermediate of the ends ofthe slot 15 the knives 12 areheldl in cutting engagement with the fabric. Due to the shape of the cam slots 15 it is seen that with each stroke of the cutting member inv either direction theknives are moved into cutting engagement with the fabric, main' fabric.

suitable means andpreferablyby the pneumatic piston 18 connectedfto.the-cutting member 9ith`rongh piston rod 19 and lin-k 20.

The piston 18 is of the double actuated type? and connections 21 are providedrflor supplying fluidunderpressure to Yboth ends of Vthe cylinder 22. Due to., the largenumber Vof knives and the regular` spacing along the cut ting member 9 with their edges in the plane of movement.- of 'the 'cutting member, the

- length of stroke necessaryis only suchas will carry one knifeV into the cut of thenext adjacent knife..V Dueto the'V provision `Vof the cam slot 15 for ymoving; thevknives into and out of engagementwith.they fabric, -by virtue ofthe movement vofthe cutting member 9, it' is necessary that'the stroke be slightlyllonger than the distance between adjacent knives in order that the end Itis necessary in cutting vthe. fabric to provide some means fori holding the fabric adjacent the cut. For this purpose bars 23 and adjacent thereto. The bars 23are1sup-V ported' by arms 24 Vslid'able' through clips 25 fixed to the frame members 5. Thefupper ends of the arms 24 move throughslots 26 in the frame members 5. The clamping bars 23 mayby virtue of their own weight supply suficient clamping factionV onY the fabric or; apositive clamping means may be provided, or preferably as shown herein a suitable resilient means is provided for forcing the bars 23 into engagement with the fab# rieV As shown in Fig. 4 a resilient force applied to thev bars may be transmitted to the arms 24 by collars 27 which engage the up.-

per extremities of the arms 24 andare slidable upon theshafts 28;.ixed in the frame members 5; Springs 29 rest at one end upon the'collars 27 and at their other-.endsnpon suitable members adjustable npon'the shafts Y 28l such as wing nuts 30. Y i.

In order to render the operation of the cutting machine as nearly automatic as possible, it is preferable to actualite the clamping bars by the movementcf the? cutting member 9.y lin Y order to effect this action, a lost motion conportions of the camf between the'pin 31 and slot 32.

nection is provided between` the arms 24 and thecutting member 9 which takes the form of pin 31 which extends at its ends through knives 12 are out of cut-ting engagement with` being provided to accommodate the screw 14 'as shown in Fig. 4. As will be seen in Fig. 4,y when the cutting member 9 is in raised posi- I tion the pin 31 is in engagement with the, tained in such cutting engagement for a sufficient length of stroke and linally'fwith-y drawn from cutting.engagementV with'the4 the cani slot 15 moves it downwardly so as v Thecutting member 9;'is actuatedl by any'- arms 24 and maintains the arms 24 and clamping bars 23 out of engagement with the fabric.; When the cutting member 9 is actuated to bring the knives into engagement withtheV fabric and the downward movement ofthe cutting -member9 permits the arms 24 and clamping bars 23 to lower, under the action vof springs 29. As will be seen in Fio'. 4V when the cutting member and clamping bars are in elevated positionthe knives are drawn into .a space between the clamping barss23. As the cuttingmember 9 and clamping bars 23 are lowered the clamping bars 23 engage thev'fabric first. The downward movement of the clamping .bars 23is limited by the Y ingbars 23 have come into engagement with the-fab ric,the cutting member 9 andplates 12 continue downwardly under the action of cam slot 15 and move into cutting engagement with the fabric. Such relative motion ofthe'clamping bars 23 and the knives 12 is permitted by the lost motion connection In the 'operation 0f the device, the 11 is brought beneath the cutting devices 2.

Air under pressure is introduced intothe cylf inders 22'so as to move the cutting members 9'in either direction. VAsthe cutting mem-v bers 9 move in either direction, the -camslots 15 cause thecutting members 9 to'move downwardly so as to bring the .clamping bars 23 completing a cycle of operations# The fabric 1 may be-then moved forward bythe con-v It listo benoted that a completecycle of veyor and the cycle of operations repeated.

operations is effected with a movement ofthe Y piston 18 in either direction. i

While one embodiment vofthe invention has beenA described in detail. by way .of illusy' tration, it is not intended so to limit the invention inasmuch as many modifications in the parts and arrangements thereof may be made as will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the` frame, a series of knives regularly spaced along the bar and mounted with their cutting edges in the plane of movement, a clamping means arranged to clamp the fabric adj acent the cut, and a single cylinder means for moving the clamping means transversely and the bar lengthwise.

2. A fabric cutting machine having in combination a frame disposed across the fabric, a rigid member mounted for movement in the frame, a s-eries of regularly spaced cutting members mounted on the rigid member with their edges in the plane of movement of the rigid member, means for moving the rigid member a distance slightly greaterthan the spacing between the cutting members, said frame and rigid m-ember having cooperating cam means which, during and by reason ofv the movement of the rigid means, moves the cutting members into cutting relation with the fabric, maintains the cutting members in cutting relation with the fabric through a distance of movement approximately equal to the spacing between the cutting members and withdraws the cutting members from the fabric.

3. A fabric cutting machine having in combination a frame disposed across the fabric, cutting means mounted for movement in the frame, said frame and cutting means carrying operating cam means` for moving the cutting member into and out of cutting relation with the fabric upon endwise movement of the cutting member, a clamping means for clamping the fabric Vadjacent the cut, con? nections between the cutting means and the clamping means whereby the clamping means is moved into and out of engagement with the fabricupon movement of cutting means, and means for operating the cutting means.

4. A fabric cutting machine having in combination a frame disposed across the fabric, cutting means mounted for movement on the frame, said frame and cutting means being provided with cam means for moving the cutting means into and out ofcutting relation with the fabric, clamping means adapted Vto engage the fabric adjacent the cut, resilient means arranged to urge the clamping means into engagement with the fabric, a lost mo tion connection between the cuttingfmeans and the clamping means for moving the clamping means from the fabric when the cutting means is withdrawn, and for permitting the clamping means to engage the fabric when the cutting means is in cutting engagement with the fabric, and means for operating the cutting means.

5. A fabric cutting machine having in combination, a frame disposed across the fabric, a rigid member movably mounted inl the frame, knives mounted in regularly spacedv relation on the rigid member with their edges `in the plane of movement of the rigid member, means for moving the rigid member a distance slightly greater than theV spacing between adjacent knives, said frame and rigid member being provided with cam means wherebyV the knives aremoved into cutting engagement with the fabric, vmaintained in cutting engagement with the fabric through a stroke, approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent knives and'withdrawn from cutting engagement with the fabric .upon

movement of the rigid member, clamping means mounted on the frame for engaging the fabric adjacent the cut, a lost motion con,- nection between the rigid memberand the clamping means whereby the clamping means is withheld from engagement with the fabric when the knives are withdrawn from the fabric and the clamping means is permitted to engagethe fabric when the knives are in cutting engagement with the fabric.

6. A fabric cutting machine having in combination, a frame. disposed across the fabric, a, rigid member movably mounted in the frame, knives mounted in regularly spaced relation on the rigid member with their edges in the plane of movement of the rigid member, means for moving the rigid member a distance slightly greater than the spacing between adjacent knives, said frame and rigid member being provided with cam means whereby the knives are moved into cutting engagement with the fabric, maintained in cutting engagement with the fabric through a stroke approximately equal to the spacing between adj acent knives, and withdrawn from cutting engagement with the fabric upon movement of the rigid member, clamping means mounted on the frame for engaging therfabricradjacent the cut, a lost lnotion Y rigidmember with their edges yin the plane of movement of therigid member, .means for'moving the rigid member a distance slightly greater than Vthe spacing `between the cutting members, said frame and rigid member having cooperating .pin and'slot means which during and by reason ofthe movement of the rigid means moves the cutting members into cutting relation with the fabric, maintains the cutting`members in cutting relation withy the fabric through a distance of movement approximately equal to the spacing between the cutting members andV withdraws the cutting members from the fabric. 'j p Y 8. A cutting device comprising an elongated frame, cutting means mounted on and movable lengthwise of the frame, clamping means carried by said frame and movable transversely thereof, connecting means between said cutting and clamping means for moving'the latter transversely in accordance with lengthwise movement ofthe cutting means, andy means for actuating the cutting means. j i

9. A cutt-ing device comprising a frame, cutting means comprising a bar mounted on and movable longitudinally of the frame, clamping means carried by said frame and movable transversely thereof, connecting means between said bar and clamping means for moving the latte-r transversely in accordance with longitudinal movement of the bar, and means for actuating the bar;

10. A fabric cutting machine having in combination a frame disposedV across the fabric, cutting means mounted for movement in the frame, said frame and cutting means being provided'with cam means for moving the cutting member into and out of cutting relation with the fabric upon endwise movement ofthe cutting member, a clamping means for .clamping the fabric adjacent the cut, connections between the cutting means and the clamping means whereby the clamping means is moved into and out of engagement with the fabric upon move'- ment of cutting means, and means for oper-` ating the cutting means.

- 1l. A fabric cutting machine. comprising a pair of spaced barscarrying oppositely projecting portions Ydisposed across the fabric in fixed position for forming a frame, guiding openings formed in said projecting portions, cutting means arranged between andcarried by said bars, fabric clamping means comprising `clamping members varranged beneath said bars andon opposite sides of said cutting means, said cutting means and clamping members being movable into and out of engagement with the fabric to be cut, supporting arms for said clamping members extending throughk said guiding openings, a supporting member for said supporting arms, mounted in said arms-for continuously engaging the back of Isaid cutting means, .and resilientmeans Acarried by said bars and engaging saidsupporting arms for Vcontinuously urging said clamping'memberstoward the said fabric and for urging f said supporting member against the back of said cutting means when said cutting means moves out of engagement with said fabric.

Signed at Detroit,county of ayne,-State of Michigan, this 5th yday of September,

GEORGE K. MeNniLn 

